2024 tax filing season set for January 29. For news from the IRS see Notice IR-2024-04
Running A Little Behind
The Internal Revenue Service recently announced Monday, January 29, 2024 as the official start date of the nation’s 2024 tax season when the agency will begin accepting and processing 2023 tax returns.
The IRS expects more than 128.7 million individual tax returns to be filed by the April 15, 2024 tax deadline.
No Need to be discouraged.
Although the IRS will not officially begin accepting and processing tax returns until January 29, people do not need to wait until then to work on their taxes if they’re using software companies or tax professionals.
Most software companies accept electronic submissions and hold them until the IRS is ready to begin processing later this month.
IRS focusing on improving Services.
Some of the new and expanded tools and resources include:
- Expanded in-person service that meets taxpayers where they are by opening or reopening Taxpayer Assistance Centers (TACs). The IRS will also offer extended hours at many TACs nationwide.
- Increased help is available on the toll-free line, and an expanded customer call back feature is designed to significantly reduce wait times.
- Improvements to the \ “Where’s My Refund\” tool, which is the IRS’ most widely used taxpayer service tool. Updates to Where’s My Refund will allow taxpayers to see more detailed refund status messages in plain language. These updates will also ensure \ “Where’s My Refund\” works seamlessly on mobile devices.
- With the improvements, taxpayers will see clearer and more detailed updates, including whether the IRS needs them to respond to a letter requesting additional information. The new updates will reduce the need for taxpayers to call the IRS for answers to basic questions.
April 15 tax filing deadline for most taxpayers
For most taxpayers, the deadline to file their personal federal tax return, pay any tax owed or request an extension to file is Monday, April 15, 2024.
Taxpayers living in Maine or Massachusetts have until April 17, 2024, due to the Patriot’s Day and Emancipation Day holidays. If a taxpayer resides in a federally declared disaster area, they also may have additional time to file. d
WHEN WILL REFUNDS ISSUED
Most in less than 21 days
- Many factors can affect a refund’s timing after the IRS receives a return. Although the IRS issues most refunds in less than 21 days, the IRS cautions taxpayers to rely on something other than receiving a refund by a certain date, especially when making major purchases or paying bills. Some returns may require additional review and may take longer. The easiest way to check a refund’s status is by using Where’s My Refund? on IRS.gov or the IRS2Go
EITC / ACTC Refunds available starting February 27
- Under the federal Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act, the IRS cannot issue Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) refunds before mid-February. Where’s My Refund? should show an updated status by February 17 for most early EITC/ACTC filers. The IRS expects most EITC/ACTC-related refunds to be available in taxpayer bank accounts or on debit cards by February 27 if they chose direct deposit and there are no other issues with their tax return.
